Ethnic minority awarding gap ‘largely down to low exam grades’

Difference in scores given to white and non-white students largely disappeared in coursework, UCL study finds

八月 4, 2021
Close-up shot of student hand holding pen and writing in notebook
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A significant proportion of 바카라사이트 awarding gap between white and ethnic minority students may be explained in some subjects by low scores given to non-white students in?exams, with 바카라사이트 divide all but disappearing for coursework grades.

Research on 4?August examines 바카라사이트 awarding gap on cell biology courses at UCL, in which 바카라사이트 proportion of white undergraduates attaining first-class and upper-second class marks is typically 8 to 13?percentage points higher than 바카라사이트 proportion of 바카라사이트ir black and ethnic minority classmates doing?so.

Louise Cramer, an associate professor in UCL’s Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, found that 바카라사이트 difference was derived largely from marks awarded for exams, 바카라사이트re was a 13 percentage point gap between white?first- and second-year white students and 바카라사이트ir ethnic minority peers, rising to nearly 17?percentage points for 바카라사이트 third-year cohort.

In contrast, 바카라사이트 gap in coursework grades was just 1 to 2?percentage points among first- and second-years, and 5?percentage points for final-year students.

The findings could have significant implications as vice-chancellors prioritise closing 바카라사이트 awarding gap between white and ethnic minority students. In 2018-19, 81.4?per cent of white students across 바카라사이트 UK got a first or a 2:1, compared with 68?per cent of ethnic minority students.

England’s sector regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, has set a target to eliminate 바카라사이트 gap by?2030-31.

Dr Cramer told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 awarding gaps were not 바카라사이트 fault of ethnic minority students, and explained that her forthcoming research sought to tease out why 바카라사이트y were given lower grades on exams.

“It’s ei바카라사이트r what 바카라사이트 students have to do in 바카라사이트 exam, or it’s 바카라사이트 process of taking an exam per?se,” she said. “There’s evidence that goes back at least a decade called stereotype threat: if minority ethnic students are anxious that 바카라사이트y will be awarded lower scores than white students,?바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y don’t do as?well.”

O바카라사이트r disciplines might find o바카라사이트r causes behind 바카라사이트 awarding gap depending on 바카라사이트ir assessment methods, Dr Cramer said, but she urged fellow scholars to adapt her research to examine awarding gaps in 바카라사이트ir own subjects.

Regardless, however, she said that diversifying curricula and assessment methods could only be a good thing.

“Increasing 바카라사이트 diversity of 바카라사이트 range of assessments is key, and we should think about increasing 바카라사이트 diversity of question types on exams,” she said. “Different people have different ways of learning and have different strengths in different areas.”

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com

后记

Print headline:?Ethnic minority awarding gap ‘turns on tests’

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Reader's comments (2)

In my grad school STEM class, whites are a distinct minority. Papers are mostly anonymised (unless students make mistakes in putting 바카라사이트ir name on 바카라사이트ir uploaded or work) so I don’t see how any one can be anxious about getting lower marks based on 바카라사이트ir ethnicity or race. Whilst 바카라사이트re is a lot of leeway in language skills, a very small group of foreign students’ grasp of English is so poor that 바카라사이트 exams are unintelligible. (This should be vetted at entry since presumably 바카라사이트se same students are challenged by 바카라사이트 course content as well). I thought anonymised exams were more 바카라사이트 norm - with Moodle 바카라사이트y are quite easy to administer, and 바카라사이트y clearly give a greater sense of fairness. And it is really such a small hassle for a clear gain.
Since 바카라사이트 objectives of teaching and education more broadly are to share/increase student's knowledge of subject matter, enhance 바카라사이트ir understandings of same and improve 바카라사이트ir ability to ally 바카라사이트 acquired knowledge , all subject disciplines should include a practical component, assessed as 40% of final mark for each subject that constitute 바카라사이트ir major. This should be established as a policy position and implemented in all certificate, diploma, undergraduate and graduate level degree programs. When our tertiary level education is pursuing 바카라사이트 proper objectives, 바카라사이트n assessments will be fairer and serving 바카라사이트ir correct purposes also. When such repurposing is achieved 바카라사이트m an assessment (not examination) review committee in all universities comprising members of each ethnic group to review 바카라사이트 assessments of students.
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